BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11771, 28 September 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

The Pall Mall Magazine: Publishing Office, 18, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.—The initial paper is on "The London of Ten Years Hence," by Hugh B. Philpott. The writer points out that " from a variety of causes there have been lately put in hand, or are shortly to be put in hand, an exceptionally large number of public improvements of the first importance; so that within the next ten years there will have been added to London a greater number of costly and imperiod since the rebuilding of the city period sonce the re-building of the city after the great fire of 1666." F. G. Aflalo gives an interesting description of Some Private Z005.," Harold Spender some episodes from the personal experiences of "The Climber in the Dolomites," in the Eastern Tyrol. G. K. Chesterton tenders some useful advice as to ".Books to Read." Robert Crawford gives "The Story of the Auto-car in France: A Patriotic Industry." The writer says that France is the paradise of the motor-car, and is' likely to remain so for a few years longer. The serial literature is entertaining and instructive.

Theosopht ix Australasia : Batson and Co., Limited, Clarence-street. Sydney. We have to hand the September number of this journal, the organ of the Australasian section of the society. It appears that Mrs. Besant has been invited to revisit. Australia and give another course of lectures, and her reply has been that she will bear it in mind, though she cannot fix a date. There are a number of articles on various phases of Theosophy, and an account of the activities of Theosophy in Australasia.

Victorian Year Book, 1895-8: This brochure contains a digest of the statistics of Victoria, with references to the statistics of the other Australasian' colonies and otner countries, compiled by Mr. J. J. Fenton, Assistant Government. Statist of Victoria. The volume, which has just been published, deals with crime, law, and social condition, and is published by the Government printer, Mr. Robert S. Brain. There is an appendix on " Crime in Victoria since the Introduction of Secular ii.clucation," in which the writer argues that secular education has not " conduced to a considerable increase of crime among the native-born population," as has been contended by those in favour of denominational education.

Report of Proceedings ok the Royal Colonial Institute: Edited by the Secretary. Published by the Institute, Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C.— The thirty-second volume is to hand. Among the papers read are several of interest to ourselves. The initial paper is by Colonel Sir Gerard Smith, on ''Recent Observations in Western Australia," which is a, tribute to that colony, of which he says: "Of the advantages which under the Commonwealth must accrue to the country which I am now proud to call the State and no longer the colony of Western Australia, I entertain no doubt whatever. We may place supreme confidence; in the industry, the ability, and resourcefulness of the people. They have earned our confidence bv their past, they will justify it by their* future." Dr. Fiucane, who had recently returned from a seven years' residence in the Islands, contributes a paper on "The Islands and the People of Fiji." ine writer says: "It says something for the courage of our present Governor to have settled clown to deal with the immense problems which this report and the state of the natives present, and it can be said, after eighteen months' experience* of the new methods, that the changes they have brought about in. Fiji in such a short time amount' really to a revolution in things Fijian." The other papers are on " The Expansion of Trade with China," "Agriculture in South Africa," " Basutoland and the Basutos," and Impressions of the West Indies."

Blackie and Sons' Publications : Blackie and Son, Limited. 50, Old Bailey, E.G., London. —We have to acknowledge receipt of " Csesar's Gallic War" (Book IV.). edited by John Brown. M.A.. -with illustrations; also a First French Primer, by Marguerite Ninet, from the same firm.

Le Sootalisime Sans Doctrines : By Albert Metin. Felix Alcau. Paris.—An exceedingly well-written and interesting description of the development of Democratic principles and of labour legislation in the Australasian colonies. M. Metin acknowledges the debt of gratitude due to the anonymous benefactor of the University of Paris by whose liberality certain selected students'of that University were enabled to make a vovage round the world. M. Metin is a. keen* student of life and affairs, and brings to bear upon his work a well-stocked mind and a faculty for what might well be termed judicial cricitism. He notes that the struggle between partisans and opponents of labour legislation in the colonies is almost entirely confined to practical questions, and that neither side appears to advantage when they invoke the aid of theory. He attributes" the progress of Democratic principles and the development of labour legislation, which constitute the most striking features of Australasian life, to the fact that the greater part of the population live in towns. From the period of the discovery of gold he dates the struggles between the squatters and large landholders on the one side and the "working man" on the other—a strugglo which ultimately involved the capitalist, and is now commonly regarded as bein" wa*ed between capital and labour. He declares emphatically that the effect of the success of the latter has lifted him far beyond the place occupied by his old-world comrade. He quaintly puts it that he has in these colonics been placed definitely m the ranks of " respectable people. The history c.[ labour legislation is graphically described by the author, who made good use of all the colonial literature and statistics available on the subject. The work is one which denotes an intelligent interest m those problems which colonial Legislatures, especially that of New Zealand, have made notable endeavours to solve.